In today’s post, I wish to reflect upon elements of this week’s combined Torah Portions entitled Mattot (or Tribes) and Masei (or Journeys). This Portion ends our journeys through the Book of Numbers and sets the stage for our historic and long-awaited conquest of the Land of Promise. Here we reflect upon sacred oaths and vows, the wages of sin, and the spoils of war when the Creator is in charge. This combined portion encompasses Numbers 30:1-36:13.

The Making of Sacred Oaths and Vows—Numbers 30:1-16

In this section of the portion, we find that when we make a sacred vow or take an oath unto Father, we are obligated to keep that vow or fulfill that oath.

What is a vow and what is an oath? Well, a vow according to “Google’s” online dictionary is simply: “a solemn promise.” An oath, on the other hand, is pretty much the same thing as a vow, but with an added element of “invoking a divine witness.” (As God is my witness, I will pay you back every bit of that money that I owe you…I swear by this with all that is holy…etc., etc., etc.)

Now, this is all well and good, but what do vows and oaths look like from a Jewish, if not a Hebrew perspective? Well, according to the Encyclopedia Judaica, a vow, which is “neder” or “nay-der” in Hebrew, is a little more than just a solemn promise. Specifically, the Jewish understanding of a vow is that it is “a promise made to the Father to perform some deed as well as for a prohibition which a person imposes upon him/herself to abstain from something which is otherwise permitted.” [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/vows-vowing] Therefore, an example of a vow in the first instance would be to give some valuable possession to a ministry. A vow in the latter instance is technically an oath, the most well known example is found in Judaism where Catholic priests take a vow of poverty. Yes, the Bible does not require a believer to be impoverished, however, the papacy has determined that for one to be a committed priest of the Franciscan or Dominican Orders of the Church Triumphant (dah dah dahhhhhh!), he must disavow himself of all earthly possessions as well as the pursuit of earthly riches.

The very first vow recorded in the Bible is found in Genesis 28:20. This passage records the vow made by Jacob where Jacob vowed that if the Creator would sustain him and return him safely to his Father’s house at the terminus of his journey, then He, Jacob, would serve him forever.

Much of what one finds on the internet regarding Jewish or Hebrew perspectives on vows and oaths is confused and contradictory. Indeed, most of the content one finds online is devoted to rabbinic perspectives on this subject, with great attention placed on how one goes about annulling a vow or oath. So I’ve not really put too much stock in those articles in my studies in preparation for this post, but choose to focus on the text of Torah for our understanding and reflection.

This instruction that we find here in this section of the Torah has to do with an individual doing what he or she promised they would do as well as it applies to following through on any binding oaths (Shevuahs) that we make unto Yehovah. According to the writers of the NET Reference Bible: “the vow (‌נֵדֶר‎‏‎, neder) was a promise to donate something of oneself or one’s substance to the LORD. The solemn oath seals the vow before the LORD, perhaps with sacrifice. The vocabulary recalls Abraham’s treaty with Abimelech and the naming of Beer Sheba with the word (see Gen 21).”

An oath is more in line with some form of negative intent which according to the NET Reference Bible writers: “to take a binding obligation. This is usually interpreted to mean a negative vow, i.e., the person attempts to abstain from something that is otherwise permissible. It might involve fasting, or abstaining from marital sex, but it might also involve some goal to be achieved, and the abstaining from distractions until the vow is fulfilled (see Psa 132).

Thus, vows, in the context of this and similar passages of the Bible, would be considered solemn promises one makes to Father. Scripture provides us specific examples of vows: deep devotion to the Creator (cf. Num. 6:2); dedicating one’s children to Yehovah (1 Sam. 1:11); devoting one’s property to Yehovah such as in offerings and tithes (Gen. 28:22); and the offering of sacrifices (Lev. 7:16; 22:18, 22; Num. 15:3). These acts are voluntary in nature (Deu. 23:21, 22); to be carried out accordingly and without delay (Num. 30:2; Deu. 23:21, 23). Vows and oaths can be the source of snares as men are prone to make them rashly (Prov. 20:25). And as we clearly see in this section of the portion reading, children require consent of a parent to make binding oaths and sacred vows (Num. 30:3-5).

Let us now consider vows and oaths from the standpoint of a teaching of our Master Yeshua Messiah as found in Matthew 5:33. Matthew records Master as saying:”…You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO YHVH.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of YHVH; or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Yerushalayim, for it is the city of the Great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no,’ anything beyond these is of evil” (Matthew 5:33-37).

Here we have Master coming along during His earthly ministry, and during the “First Sermon on the Mount” He brings up the instruction on vows and oaths that is mentioned in Torah. And staying true to the prohibition against adding to or taking away from Torah, as well as He, Messiah, coming to earth to illuminate Torah to its fullest brilliance for us, He simply cuts through the matter and says: “Hey, know this, your word must always be your bond. You do not need to make an oath nor swear a vow unto Father or unto anyone in the Name of YHVH. Instead, if you are compelled to do anything of true spiritual significance, simply do it. If you are not compelled to do that thing, simply don’t do it. If you are compelled to do anything for anyone, you don’t have to enter into oaths or take vows to accomplish that which you are compelled to do. Simply do what you’re supposed or led to do. No need for fanfare. Just do it, or don’t do it at all if you feel otherwise. Choose your path and stick with whatever thing you decide to do.”

So what is the big picture to be had from that which Master and Torah teaches about the making of vows and oaths? The bottom-line to us making vows and binding oaths is that Father expects them to be fulfilled accordingly. We are to be held accountable when we fall short of fulfilling our obligations unto Yehovah. You know, people in the excitement of a spiritual situation are often moved to make vows and take solemn oaths that they either never intend or are not in a position to fulfill them. When we violate this Torah instruction, we essentially snub Father. Father does not, however, take likely to such snubbing. And why not? Do we not become enraged when someone fails to keep their word to us? When people break promises to us mere mortals, we rationalize within ourselves that it would have been so much better if the individual making the unfulfilled promise simply didn’t make the promise in the first place. We no doubt would have preferred if the person simply didn’t commit to that which he or she promised they’d do, or better, that they just do what they said they’d do. We don’t need to make oaths or sacred vows if we intend to do a deed. Just do it. This was all that Master was saying in His teaching.

The lesson here is somewhat anecdotal. It was a customary practice for Ancient Near East people to make elaborate, often sacred vows and oaths to others as well as to their gods. Many times, those oaths and vows were sealed by the offering of sacrifices. The solemnity of the vow and oath process alone was generally enough to force the ancients to keep their vows and oaths. However, many ancients also did not keep their oaths and vows. Father comes along in Torah and says: “If you are going to go the route of making such elaborate vows and oaths, for whatever reason, you best fulfill it or else. I’m not playing.” Did this mitzvah eliminate the tendency of the ancients from breaking their oaths and vows to the Creator and to their brethren? Of course not. We clearly saw throughout the whole of Tanakh where Hebrews broke solemn vows and oaths that they made to Father. In most cases it involved vows and oaths to remain obedient to Torah and to not turn to pagan gods and idol worship. Consequently, we saw time and time again how the people individually and collectively broke the vows and oaths that they made to Father. We also saw what ultimately happened to those individuals and to the nation as a whole when they broke their vows and oaths to Father.

Then Master comes on the scene centuries later and says: “Look, just do the right thing always. And, oh by the way, just so you avoid getting yourself into trouble with the Creator and with men, how about you just don’t make vows and oaths at all? Either do the right thing every time; keep your promises, or simply don’t commit to doing things that you can’t or don’t intend to do in the first place.” This is Kingdom behavior at its best.

This section also addresses woman making vows and the rules around women’s vows and oaths. Many Chauvinists would look at this passage and declare that this passage supports the thinking that woman are subservient to men. I do not believe this to be the case. The culture at the time that these instructions on vows and sacred oaths were given were of such that woman were indeed subject to their husbands and fathers in a very restricting way. I believe that here Father was working with what He had to work with in the contextual framework of Ancient Near East cultural norms and practices. Later on, Master would come and free woman from such subjugation (Gal. 3:28). In the interim, however, Father appears to be bringing order to this subject of vows and oaths in the home. At the time Torah was handed down to us in the wilderness, woman relied entirely upon their husbands and fathers (when unmarried) for everything, including direction on how they conduct themselves in everyday life.

So how should we as Torah Observant Believers apply these instructions today, especially as it relates to women, vows and oaths? I say, follow the instructions of our Master Yeshua, and there would be no problem. Like men, women, regardless if they are married or single, simply should not make vows or oaths, but instead, always do the right thing and let your yes be yes and their no’s be no’s. It’s that simple.

So when was the last time you made a sacred vow or oath unto Yehovah? Did you carry through with it? If you did not, did you seek forgiveness? Upon hindsight, would it have been better to not enter into such an oath or vow in the first place? If you were successful in fulfilling your obligation, would it not have been sweeter to simply go through with doing the right thing without making the vow or oath? This Torah reading has proved to be extremely valuable to me. I now realize how important it is to simply avoid entering into vows and oaths. Instead, it’s better to simply seize upon opportunities to do good and then do them without the sensational fanfare of making those risky vows or oaths in the first place.

The Wages of Sin is Death—Numbers 31:1-12—Flashback to Numbers 25

The Midianites caused the men of the nation to go a-whoring after the Midianite gods, especially after Ba’al of Peor (Num. 25). Father did not take likely to this underhanded scheme that this passage states was conceived by Balaam—the region’s jack-leg prophet for hire; that being to cause the Midianite women to use their feminine

Assets to lure the Hebrew men to abandon YHVH. Certainly, this scheme was designed to subtly and non-violently pacify the Hebrew nation before their enemies in the region (Num. 25). Some supposed scholars have made claims that Jewish scribes, in order to save face on behalf of the Hebrew nation, falsely inserted verse 16 of this same chapter, which served to lay at the feet of Balaam the blame for the whole Ba’al-Peor incident. I find such a claim not only laughable, but heretical. It is clear, throughout the whole Balak-Balaam song and dance that spanned chapters 22 through 24 is evidence enough to conclude that Balaam was a sketchy prophet.

The Moab-Midianites were Ba’al – Peor Worshipers in league with the Moabites

So what’s the deal with these Ba’al-loving Midianites? I initially thought they were YHVH-fearers. Wasn’t Moshe’s wife and father-in-law Midianites? In fact, wasn’t Moshe’s father-in-law, Jethro, a Midianite priest of YHVH? Well, I found that I was not wrong in my recollection of the Midianites. The YHVH-fearing Midianites I was familiar with, however, were not the only Midianites in the Ancient Near East. Moshe’s Midianite family resided in the Horeb region, which appears to be present day Saudi-Arabia. The Midianites that this Torah Reading describes were from the Moab region that is located east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. In stark contrast to their Horeb brothers and sisters to the south, these Moab-centric Midianites were staunch Ba’al worshipers.

But if we step back just a bit we find that the Midianites were all descended from Midian. Midian was one of Abraham’s sons. Midian’s mother was Abraham’s concubine, Keturah (Gen. 25:1,2; 1 Chr. 1:32). It turns out that the vast majority of Midianites resided in Moab, which was east of the Jordan (Num. 22:1,4) while a modest remnant of dwelt near Horeb as recorded in Exo. 2:15 and 3:1. It is clear from this Torah-Reading that this main-group of Midianites were politically, militarily and religiously linked to the Moabites.

As it stands in relation to this story, Father’s ire was against the Moab-Midianites (reference: Num. 22).  These Midianites, when it appeared that the plan to use Balaam the prophet against the Hebrews crumbled before their very eyes, chose an underhanded way to diminish the apparent threat they saw posed by the Hebrews: that being, to seduce the Hebrew men to commit idolatry and adultery (Num. 25:1-16). This offense immensely angered Father. Thus Father’s anger was turned toward both the Hebrews and the Midianites: the Midianites for this underhanded scheme of seducing the Hebrews; the Hebrews for violating Father’s strict prohibition against worship of other gods. Father’s ire was first turned against the Hebrews in which case He ordered that the judges of Israel (reference Exo. 18:25) bring every community leader who supported the rebellion and Ba’al Worship to trial and execute those found guilty. Earlier in the Hebrew’s wilderness journey, Father directed Moshe to appoint community leaders to help govern and oversee the daily activities and lives of tribes. These community leaders were responsible for the tribes’ overall adherence and conformity to Torah. Sadly, we can safely surmise from this Torah Reading that these leaders failed to carry out their responsibilities and duties to the nation. They not only turned a blind eye to the blatant violation of Torah by members of their tribes, but in many cases they themselves likely participated in the apostasy/idolatry/adultery. ( I include adultery, and should also add fornication with it as well, because the Midianite women who were used to entice the Hebrew men to whore after pagan gods were in most cases Ba’al temple prostitutes. We need not go into the implications that this situation presented however.) Thus, these tribal leaders that were found guilty of dereliction of their duties overseeing the conformity of their tribes and of themselves participating in the apostasy were sentenced to public impalement and hanging before the eyes of Yehovah and the nation (NET Bible). Those who did not hold a leadership position but gave in and participated in this apostasy were killed off in the plague that ravaged through the tribal camps.

As Father’s wrath against the nation of Israel reached its peak, some Hebrew fellow brought in plain sight for all to see (in particular within view of the nation’s leaders just outside the Tent of Meeting (Num. 25:6)), a Midianite woman, whom he felt free to his tent. I mean, how stupid can one be. Goes to show us that sin, once it takes firm hold in a community, is often hard to contain. Now, as I mentioned just a moment ago, I contend that this woman was likely a Ba’al-temple prostitute. We learned from last week’s Torah Reading how Eleazer the High Priest’s zealous son, Phineas, upon seeing this atrocity play out before his and the nation’s leaders’ eyes, abruptly leapt to his feet, grabbed a javelin and summarily executed both the Midianite woman and this foolish Hebrew fellow. I contend that it was not the fact that the woman was a Midianite, but rather it was this Midianite woman’s and her Hebrew boy-toy’s indisputable connection to this apostasy that ignited a righteous indignation within Phineas enough to run them both through with a javelin (Num. 25:7). This single act of righteous indignation assuaged Father’s anger away from Israel and staved the plague (Num. 25:8), which sadly claimed some 24,000 souls (Num. 25:9).

After punishing Israel’s apostasy, Father turned his attention to the underhanded Moabite-Midianites. Thus Father instructed us to take up arms to go to war against the Midianites to exact His vengeance upon them. Here we see a brilliant example of Father exacting vengeance upon a nation of people using His chosen people. According to Harris’ Theological Workbook of the OT, “there are comparatively few cases where man is considered a proper source of vengeance” and that “often man is a secondary cause while YHVH is the source.” Thus we find here that the Hebrews, 1,000-warriors from each tribe, would be the arm by which Father would exact His vengeance against the Midianites.

So we went out to war with the Midianites with 12,000 men. Every Midianite adult male was killed. However, the Midianite women, children and the nation’s cattle and personal possessions were spared.

Moshe, angered over the warriors’ handling of the Midianite survivors, instructed that all the women who had any history of sexual relationships with men would be executed, along with every male child. However, the women who were shown to be virgins, as well as the female children would be spared and ultimately grafted into the Hebrew nation. These would ultimately intermarry and expand the population and strength of the nation through child-bearing. This harsh edict against the execution of the Midianite women, in particular, was due to the Midianite women’s role in seducing the men of Israel to turn to Ba’al-Peor. Father’s righteousness is thorough and complete, even down to the very last person. He has a reason for doing everything He does, despite how hideous, unwarranted and cold it may seem to our Western mindset and sensibilities. I would venture to guess that one of the reasons father had all the sexually active women executed was to effectively cut-off any further spread of Ba’al worship in the nation. If these Midianite women were permitted to live and then take Hebrew men as husbands, they potentially could seduce their them to turn to Ba’al worship yet again.

Nevertheless, Father’s righteousness will ultimately prevail against all the nations of the world in the End of Days. Many will look upon the punishment that Father will exact upon the nations and feel that He is completely unjust and monstrous in His actions. But we have the Mind of Messiah and we understand that Father is sovereign and His purpose is entirely based upon holiness, righteousness and Truth. He will also be merciful to those whom He chooses to extend His mercies to. Even now, His mercies are renewed each day for every breathing individual on this planet. Yet the world at large chooses not to embrace those gentle mercies by turning to Him and His Way of Life, and give up their sinful ways. Sadly, time is running out for the nation peoples of this world. We are the remnant and last hope for those who would turn to Yahoshua Messiah and live. May we not grow weary in our work for the Kingdom of the Gospel.

I found it very telling that even after the entire vengeance upon the Midianites had been completed, Father’s requirement that His people be holy and ritually pure, remained in-force. Those warriors who participated in the exacting of YHVH’s vengeance upon the Midianites were required to go through a purification process outside of the camp before being permitted back into the camp.

As Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, how does this apply to us today? Quite simply this: if Father’s vengeance extended to both our forefathers who went a-whoring after Ba’al-Peor and then over to the purveyors of that apostasy (i.e., the Midianites), it is clear that there are limits to Father’s patience as it relates to what He will tolerate from us in terms of our behavior and disobedience. Not only will He exact His punishment upon His children through natural means, but also through the actions of others. Just look how many of us are having to endure sickness, disease, poverty, hardships, and of course even harassment from others, both within and without our family circles. Granted, such things as I have listed here MAY NOT BE be an indication that we are disobedient or in violation of His instructions. We should be aware that Father allows hardships and afflictions to come upon us from time-to-time to try and prove us in the perfection—sanctification process.

The Apostle Peter wrote: After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1Pe 5:10 NAU)

But outside those trials and afflictions that come to perfect us, are trials and afflictions that come as a result of sin and unrighteousness in our lives. And I am a firm believer that it behooves each of us to constantly examine our lives for sin and unrighteousness, as they may be the cause of such afflictions and trials. Father reserves the right to exact punishment upon His own who are disobedient and who are evil, and it is not beyond Him to use natural and human means to exact that punishment. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Assembly of Believers:

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the Faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Yeshua Messiah is in you, unless indeed you fail the test” (2 Cor. 13:5).

In that examination of ourselves for purposes of coming to terms with our present relationship with the Father, we must also come to terms that Father disciplines those whom He loves, as counter-intuitive as that may seem to our western sensibilities and mindset. The writer of the Book of Hebrews penned the following:

“You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin [as did our Master who died at the hands of sinners]. And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? ‘My son, do not scorn YHVH’s discipline or give up when He corrects you. For YHVH disciplines the one He loves and chastises every son He accepts.’ Endure your sufferings as disciples. YHVH is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not disciple? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons (Heb. 12:4-8).”

Indeed, Father’s correction and disciplining of His children is different than vengeance He exacts upon His enemies from time-to-time. The vengeance He exacts upon His enemies and the enemies of His people is for keeps and is intended to establish His righteous judgment upon the earth. Discipline, on the other hand is performed by Father for purposes of perfecting His children in righteousness. However, if we do not turn from our wicked ways when that discipline comes, we may find ourselves on the short end of a “spiritual stick “(so to speak) that leads to eternal justice and we are ultimately left to suffer eternal separation from YHVH and even destruction as we saw happen with the Midianites. Indeed, our Heavenly Father is long-suffering. But there are limits to His patience and limits to what He will tolerate from us in terms of our behavior and the sins we commit.

Disposition of the Spoils of War—Num. 31:20-54

Justice demanded that the spoils of war with the Midianites (i.e., the material riches and the animal resources) would be distributed according to the righteous will and plan of YHVH. This righteous distribution of the spoils of war included first and foremost, taking care of the priestly leadership of the nation and the sanctuary. Then the rest of the spoils were rightly distributed to the warriors who collected them and then to the rest of the nation, accordingly.

The one thing in this section that caught my attention the most had to do with the actions of the officers who were over the warriors who went out against the Midianites. Interestingly, verse 49 certified that not one soul was lost on the Hebrew’s side in this war, which is a miracle in and of itself. That should not be understated. Indeed, although Father exacted vengeance upon the Midianites using the Hebrews, it was Father Himself who fought against the Midianites. I counted four-times in the KJV where Father ensured us that “He would fight for us” (Exo. 14:14; Deu. 1:30; 3:22; 20:4). How this all worked, it’s impossible to tell. Suffice only to say that this major military operation was accomplished without loss of Hebrew life.

Nevertheless, these officers brought an offering from they and their men’s spoils to Moshe and Eleazer, specifically once-owned Midianite riches. This offering was intended, on the part of the officers, to serve as a means of atonement for the warriors who went out to war against the Midianites. Their hearts appeared to be in a proper place. They honored Father in their giving. They honored themselves in their giving as well, as they showed forth hearts that Father had always longed for His people to have toward Him.

Father stated that He desired His people to have such a heart in them, that they would fear Him and keep all His commandments always; that it would be well with them and with their sons forever” (Deu. 5:26). And I say, for hardened warriors as these, to see such a display of righteousness and heart is very inspiring.

Gad and Reuben Request Land on their Present Side of the Jordan–Num. 32:1-19

We find in this section of the Torah Reading that the leadership of both the Gad and Reuben Tribes had approached Moshe and Eleazer, requesting that their inheritance of land be that of Jazer and Gilead, which was on the Hebrew’s present side of the Jordan. To the descendants of Gad and Reuben, Jazer and Gilead was an ideal inheritance for them in terms of land. It was perfect for raising and maintaining their livestock. Up to this point, the nation had not crossed over the Jordan and begun the conquest of the Land of Canaan. There was much fighting to be done in order to fully claim the Land of Canaan. Gad’s and Reuben’s request, initially, no doubt appeared to be self-serving and posed a potential threat for the entire nation. Moshe and Eleazer presumed that the Gadites and Reubinites, upon being granted the lands that they were requesting, would diminish the military might of the Hebrew nation and even anger Father by once again signaling a refusal on the part of the Hebrews to go in and take the Land.

The Reubenites and Gadites proposed a compromise to their request. Instead of leaving the remaining 9-1/2-Tribes (half of the Tribe of Manasseh elected to take some of this land as opposed to the land on the other side of the Jordan) to go it alone, without their military assistance, the Reubenite and Gadite armies would accompany and fight with their brethren on the other side of the Jordan. Thus they proposed fighting alongside their brethren and conquering Canaan before returning to Jazer and Gilead to be with their families and enjoy their inheritance.

Many of us who are Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, live relatively blessed and secure lives, especially those of us living in the West. However, we have many brothers and sister living in various parts of the world today, who are struggling just to live each and every day. These fellow Netzarim, in many cases, can only imagine the wonderful lives that many of us enjoy here in the west each and everyday. So these precious brothers and sisters struggle and suffer each day, while most of us simply occupy and await Yeshua’s return. How can we sit idly by while there is still so much to be done before Master returns and while so many of the brethren around the world are suffering and struggling to get by because they confess Yahoshua as their Messiah and Master?

Like our Reubinite and Gadite forefathers, it behooves us to somehow fight alongside our brothers and sisters who are still struggling and fighting to make it through each day, even in the midst of their living Torah Observant lives. Many of these brethren, despite their afflictions and hardships, continue to walk out their Faith without complaint or regret. Many pay the ultimate price–martyrdom–for their Faith.

Now, I am not suggestiing that we necessarily give up all that we have and take up lives like our suffering brethren in other parts of the world. What I am suggesting, however, is that we somehow answer the call for service; that we fight the good fight; that we do that which Master commissioned us to do. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Assembly of Believers:

“I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of YHVH, to present your bodies as a sacrifice–alive, holy and pleasing to YHVH–which is your reasonable service. In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the this present world. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you will know what YHVH wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed” (Rom. 12:1-3; NET).

Thus, if we call ourselves Netzarim, Hebrew Rooters, Messianics, whatever, let us be sure to not be called such by title only. Let us, however, be called such by our actions; our words; our obedience; our giving; our love for one another; our willingness to do whatever needs to be done to further the Gospel of the Kingdom around the world.

The remainder of the Torah Reading this week is easily summed up as follows:

A Rehash of the 40-Year Journey of Sojourn in the Wilderness–Num. 32:20-33:49

We Receive Instructions for Possessing the Land of Promise Including Destruction of the Inhabitants’ Places of Worship and Taking Out All the Inhabitant of those Lands–Num. 33:50-34:15

Here it is recorded that we received the overall boundaries for the Land of Promise. Sadly, much of that inherited land has been lost because of Israel’s sin and refusal to keep Torah and accept Yeshua as their Messiah. However, when Master returns, He will correct and restore everything as Father had always intended it to be. Indeed, Shaul assures us that there is coming a day when “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26).

Now, within this extensive boundary, we received instruction for the dividing up of the Land, justly and righteously. This is the economy of the Kingdom. This is not the way of man. We know that such an apportionment, if run by man, would have been heavily influenced by greed, resentment, ambition and the list could go on forever. Father is no respecter of persons (cf. Act. 10:34). Thus, when the conquest was completed, the Land would be apportioned to the inheritors as Father had promised, without fuss and in accordance to His righteous will and purpose. What a just and holy God we serve.

Leaders are Appointed From Each Tribe to Properly Disseminate the Land–Showing Order and Justice–Num. 34:16-35:8

We Receive Instruction for the Apportioning of Cities for Manslaughter Refuge and the Rules Regarding Cities of Refuge–Num. 35:9-36:13

Here we received instructions that would ensure that our lives would be safe and our lands free from defilement and chaos. Father had everything thought out and if we but followed His instructions to the letter and in the Spirit that it was given; and if we did not turn from His Torah and resisted the tug to follow after men and false gods, our lives would be blessed and secure and the land would not suffer defilement and we would not face judgment.

Lastly, we received instructions that would ensure that each tribe’s inheritance of land would remain, in perpetuity, with each Tribe.

Closing thoughts and Reflections

And with that, we come to the end of the Book of Numbers. Next week, the Torah Readings introduce us to the Book of Deuteronomy which promises to be a tremendous journey to say the least. May you have a blessed week in the interim. May you walk in the power and might of Father’s Holy Spirit (i.e., Father’s Ruach HaKodesh). And until next week, may you be most blessed my brother and sister in the True Faith once delivered. Shabbat Shalom; Shavuatov and take care.